Young Colorado student perishes while safeguarding classmates amidst a tragic school shooting, sparking speculation about his potential sainthood.
In a significant development, the Bishop of Colorado Springs, James R. Golka, has announced that an office study will be conducted to determine whether to open a sainthood cause for Kendrick Castillo, the teenager who lost his life tackling a shooter during the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting in May 2019.
Castillo was the only student who died in the tragic incident, and his actions prevented further loss of life. Bishop Golka, in his July 29 statement, praised Castillo as an exceptional young man and urged everyone to privately seek his intercession to God, especially for the youth in their diocese.
John Castillo, Kendrick's father, described his son as a "catalyst of love" and said that Kendrick's devotion to God was "number one." Kendrick volunteered with his father at Knights of Columbus events and was planning to join the order after graduating from high school.
The petition for Castillo's sainthood cause was submitted by two priests from St. Mark Catholic Church in Highlands Ranch. They collected enough preliminary information to classify him under three of the four means by which to become a saint, including the new category created by Pope Francis of "offering of life."
Father Patrick DiLoreto, who will be assigned to St. Mark starting July 2024, felt moved to pursue a sainthood cause for Kendrick after driving on Kendrick Castillo Way. Father Bierbaum, the pastor at St. Mark, where Kendrick's parents are new parishioners, was also moved by Kendrick's actions and strong Catholic faith.
Kendrick was known for talking about his faith with his peers. The Knights of Columbus conferred honorary membership on Kendrick and gave his parents a Caritas Medal, their second highest honor, months after his death. Kendrick transferred to the STEM charter school on the recommendation of a teacher from his Catholic school.
Kendrick was days away from high school graduation and had plans to study aerospace engineering. The Douglas County committee is currently raising funds for a monument in his honor at a local park and to create a robotics scholarship in his name, as stated on the Kendrick Castillo memorial website.
Two students, Alec McKinney and Devon Erickson, were convicted on dozens of charges for carrying out the shooting and sentenced to life imprisonment. Despite the tragic circumstances, Kendrick's life was marked by joyful living. John Castillo shared that Kendrick never had a photo taken in which he was not smiling.
This potential sainthood cause for Kendrick Castillo underscores his extraordinary life and heroic actions, which continue to inspire and impact the community even after his untimely death.
Read also:
- Impact of Alcohol on the Human Body: Nine Aspects of Health Alteration Due to Alcohol Consumption
- Understanding the Concept of Obesity
- Tough choices on August 13, 2025 for those born under Aquarius? Consider the advantages and disadvantages to gain guidance
- Microbiome's Impact on Emotional States, Judgement, and Mental Health Conditions
